Sometimes the places we pick for our Friday night dinner reservation have nothing to do with the menu. I know that might sound counterintuitive, but hear us out. Increasingly, what we're looking for is an experience. And that means we want to be immersed – both on the plate and off it.
For decades now, the restaurant scene in Australia has catered toward those seeking a beautiful space to dine. They're hiring some of the country's premier interior designers and spending more than a pretty penny on fit-outs that turn heritage sites and waterfront grottos into Parisian bistros and cavernous monoliths.
If you – like us – are someone who wants a feast for the eyes as much as they want one for their stomach, this is our curated list of Australia's most beautiful restaurant interiors...
NSW
Raes on Wategos, Byron Bay
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Imagined by Tasmin Johnson, seemingly everything is memorable. Drenched in white stone, and warm sunlight, the space is a laid-back luxury, with Richard Gere in American Gigolo levels of charm — and allure.
Sean's, Bondi
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Sean's (formerly Sean's Panaroma) at Bondi Beach was designed by its owners, chef Sean Moran and his partner Michael Robertson, back in 1993. The interiors are a distinct, eclectic beach-shack aesthetic, known for its bric-a-brac beach house chic. You can't go wrong at a venue featuring hand-written menus, mismatched furniture, local artwork, and sweeping views of the ocean.
Chiswick, Woolhara
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This Sydney eatery founded by Matt Moran is nestled into a lush green property replete with its own kitchen garden. A former cottage and stables, inside, French countryside-style interiors make for a divine dining experience – hardwood floors, plush floral, upholstered booths, and wrap-around French doors that open onto manicured lawns.
VIC
Carnation Canteen, Fitzroy
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In a bright corner of Fitzroy with a big marble bar and handmade tables, Carnation Canteen is a thrilling and intimate little world where you can see bottles opening, smell what the chefs are plating, and can feel a transcendent intensity from an oyster with a drop of lemon. The interiors feature original Sidney Nolan artworks, weekly floral arrangements (done by the owner's Mum), and a fine collection of vintage lamps. Opt for street-side dining or a table in their courtyard when the weather's nice.
Gigi, Prahran
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Prahran's campy Parisian-inspired speakeasy by the Entrecote team is incredibly fun – velvet banquettes, antique crystal chandeliers, Persian carpets and hand-painted walls by artist Melissa Macfarlane. The interiors here are inspired by the 1958 cult classic musical Gigi, which gives them a whimsical energy that's hard to pass up.
Reine & La Rue, Melbourne CBD
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Housed within the former stock exchange, the building's grand bones have been beautifully preserved. Original stonework, towering arched windows and lofty cathedral-like ceilings are softened by rich timber, velvet seating and an intimate glow that makes the vast dining room feel surprisingly inviting. (And one of Melbourne's most beautiful eight-seat wine bars tucked discreetly to one side.)
QLD
The French Exit, Brisbane CBD
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Reinterpreting the Parisian bistro for Brisbane’s CBD, the heritage corner site has been designed by Tamsin Johnson complete with beautiful pressed zinc ceilings, butter-yellow walls, plush leather booths, stained glass partitians and parquetry floors.
Rich Shores, Burleigh Heads
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Perhaps the coast's most iconic waterfront dining spot, Rick Shores is footsteps from the sands at Burleigh. Panoramic ocean views and floor-to-ceiling glass that opens for a cool, ocean breeze make for some of the most jaw-dropping views in the area.
BASK Restaurant, Peregian Beach
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This two Chef-Hatted restaurant co-owned by interior designer Jess Coolican feels like a scene from a Nancy Meyers film – tables spilling with plump fruits, ancient ceramics, copper pots dangling above the kitchen pass and an opening onto al fresco seating nestled within the boutique beachfront enclave of Peregian Beach Village.
Sushi Room at The Calile Hotel, Fortitude Valley
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Dark, delightful and delicious. Richards & Spence made something that could equally have found its place aboard the Discovery One. Restricted palette and a warm buzz.
Same Same, Fortitude Valley
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Long concrete tables and palms stretched upward, all tucked beneath soaring archways and brutalist architecture. We love an open kitchen and the upstairs LOS Bar is equally as chic.
ACT
Happy's Chinese Restaurant, Canberra
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Happy’s has a blend of traditional wooden accents and a gigantic mural that lines the wall with a painting of the Great Wall of China and its surrounding landscape. Soft, white lights, intimate options and options for big groups, this place is honest, practical and comfortable. It just works.
Tak Kee Roast Inn, Canberra
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Fluro lights, industrial size glad wraps on a main table for takeaway orders, ducks in the window, fabulous vibe.
TAS
Faro at MONA, Hobart
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A light-drenched bar and restaurant suspended over the Derwent River. It's housed inside the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and marries avant-garde, hyper-creative cuisine with immersive James Turrell artworks and live performance art.
TrophyRoom, North Hobart
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Open-plan kitchen and dining room, light dining table, timber chairs and pared-back dining. Rochelle Canteen but more indoors? It brings back nostalgic yearnings for memories long gone — the smell of fresh mortadella after a day in the sun, the glutenous heaven of fresh pasta, supple layers of mozzarella, etc.
SA
Star of Greece
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Perched on a hill reaching the sky. It has the tactile charm of a luxury stay while sitting humbly with a minimal interior. Big, white, and bright rooms. Washed with windows and light.
WA
Gibney Cottesloe
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Eating at a beachfront restaurant in Sorrento can be tiring and suffocating. I’d recommend you ditch the trip and sit here, overlooking the great blue.
NT
Tali Wiṟu, Uluru
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A renowned fine dining experience located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, they offer unique four-course meals under the stars.
Lola's Pergola, Darwin
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Martinis, a rounded bar, and what feels like a circus going on behind you. Discrete lighting and intimate seating. Feels almost secret.
